Who We Are

and What We Do

Our domain

The GCBR is located in the southern part of South Africa, across parts of the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape. It is an incredibly unique place in that it the only area in the world where three global biodiversity hotspots converge: the Fynbos, Succulent Karoo and Maputoland-Tongoland-Albany hotspots.

On the 9th June 2015 UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) approved the designation of the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) as South Africa’s 7th, and largest biosphere reserve – at 3 187 893 hectares!

Furthermore, UNESCO approved the serial extension of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (CFRPA) World Heritage Site within the domain, which added to formally protected areas as part of the CFRPA World Heritage Site.

The GCBR is characterised by high endemism of plant species, which means they occur nowhere else on earth. At least 670 of the approximately 5,000 plant species present are endemic to the Biosphere Reserve. Even the arid inland portion of the region is rich in endemic species, with at least 400 of the 3,200 plant species restricted to the Biosphere Reserve. They are, in other words, irreplaceable: if we lose them they are gone, forever. It is simply impossible to overestimate the importance of our region’s biodiversity – for us and for the rest of the world. It is one of key reasons why UNESCO has declared this area as an international Biosphere Reserve.

Who we are

The GCBR is a non-profit company registered in terms of Section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973) as an association incorporated not for gain to manage the Biosphere Reserve in terms of the requirements of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.

The GCBR is a membership organisation governed by an elected non-executive board of directors. A lean management team is responsible for direction, strategy implementation and day to day operations. Project leaders are appointed on a project-by-project basis, coupled with partnerships as a preferred way of delivering on the ground.

How we work

The GCBR’s organisational culture and methods of working are characterised by the principle of enabling and informing others:

Partnerships and networks with champions across the domain: inter alia local action and youth groups, innovative farmers and associations, non-governmental organisations, faiths such as church groups;

Influencing public opinion, perceptions and behaviours with special attention to the youth and tomorrow’s leaders.

How we are funded

At present, the GCBR largely depends on donor financing for its operations. Much thought has gone into the organisation’s long-term sustainability, and a core principle of our strategy is to become financially self-reliant in terms of our core costs. Gouritz Enterprises Pty Ltd, a for-profit company, was registered in 2016 with the GCBR as its sole shareholder. The intention of this vehicle is to develop business opportunities from which surplus can be derived. Profits will be paid to the GCBR to build up an unrestricted fund to further support delivering on the GCBR’s mandate.

In this way, we envision the GCBR’s evolution as a social enterprise with two connected hubs, as depicted in the organogram below. One, the GCBR non-profit, delivers on the ground, actively learning, sharing and functioning as a node in wider, multiple networks. The other – Gouritz Enterprises Pty Ltd – will operate on commercial lines generating profits to be reinvested and deployed towards meeting the GCBR’s core costs.

Our Team

Meet our awesome team. Get in touch.

Willem Botha

Chairman

willembotha@easycoms.co.za

Charles Basson

Board Director

charles@gouritz.com

Ken Coetzee

Board Director

consken@mweb.co.za

Kobus Nel

Board Director

Yvette Potgieter

Board Director

yvettepotgieter@icloud.com

Hendrik Visser

Board Director

hendrik@hessequa.gov.za

Gerrit van Rensburg

Ambassador for Agriculture

gerritvrensburg@gmail.com

Dick Carr

Advisory Committee Coordinator

dickcarr@hilbert.co.za

Alan Wheeler

Advisory Committee Member

adwheeler@capenature.co.za

Steve Du Toit

Chief Executive

steve@gouritz.com

Wendy Crane

Programme Development

wendy@gouritz.com

André Britz

Project Manager: Jobs for Carbon

britzieaj@gmail.com

Rhett Hiseman

Project Manager: Goukou Resilient River

rhiseman@gmail.com

Alan Fowler

Organisation Development Adviser

alan@alanfowler.org

Myles Mander

Learning and Evaluation

myles@futureworks.co.za

Karin Coetzee

Financial Administrator

finance@gouritz.com

Marinda van As

General Administrator

admin@gouritz.com

Luami Zondagh

Stakeholder Engagement

luamizondagh@gmail.com

Alyson Horsley

Media, Marketing and Communications

alyson@horsley.co.za

Nikki Du Toit

nikkirenic@gmail.com

Media, Marketing and Communications Support – Multimedia and graphic design

Implementing Partners

Susan Botha

Water Wise Ways

sbotha0@gmail.com

Gerhardt Oosthuizen

Vanwyksdorp Development Institute

gerhardt@profitsunlimited.co.za

GCBR Location in South Africa

GCBR Domain Details

GCBR Clusters

Total terrestrial and marine surface area (ha):

0

Core Zone (ha):

0

Buffer Area (ha):

0

Transition Area (ha):

0

Plant Species: approximately

0

of which

0

are endemic

By 2020, the GCBR will be (inter-)nationally recognised and respected for its balanced and effective approach to ecological sustainability and human development.

The GCBR will be experienced as an inclusive, approachable and ‘desired collaborator’ for all population groups and institutions in the domain.

Our Inspiration

Our Office

One of the most exciting events to happen for the GCBR during mid 2018 was the acquisition of its head office in Riversdale. With a domain in excess of 3.1 million hectares, finding the right place was no easy task taking into consideration travelling time from other points of the domain and proximity to amenities. Ultimately Riversdale came out the top choice and the GCBR now has a base for its core staff, a venue for meetings and an information centre for stakeholders.

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